National Republican., 1887-07-08
Lieut.. Gen. =. IL. Sheridan.

The current number OF Harpc,'s Weekly
contains an excellent likeness OF the dis
tinguished gentleman whose name heads
this article, with sketch Of his life which
we reproduce.
Gen. Sheridan is one of the few men 10
this or any other generation who has de-
veloped genius as commander. Many
men have talents in the various walks OF
life, while genius Is an exceedingly rare
quality.
Gen. Sheridan certainly possesses that
rare combination which is termed genius
and luckily it is the genius for command
The government OF the United States was
indeed fortunate 10 having in its service at
the opportune time mau like Gen. Sheri-
dan, whose intutions never failed him and
whose wonderful sway over men enabled
him to inspire them with his own spirit OF
elan and dash.
There were other commanders in the
Union armies with all the devotion to the
cause, all the courage and determination OF
Gen. Sheridan, but most, II not all, of them
lacked that Unborn gift called "genius,"
and they therefore failed to accomplish
what he did.
What "genius" IS, no one can define; we
merely see the results; we cannot tell the
causes. 1t would be as easy to paint
flash Of lightning as II breaks across the
lurid darkness as It is to tell what genius
is, or what it will do; we only recognize 1t
by what it has done.
The sketch in Udrper'S Weekly merely
tells the story of Gen. Sheridan's lie, but 1t
does that well and reads rs follows:
Lieut.. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, tn, com.
mander of the army of the United States, has
passed his iftysixth year. yet no one VIII sees
him + day in his ofi1e attending - the dull
routine, in his charming home and the society
of his family, at one Of the gay social or state
gatherings that are so frequent at the capital,
or at the head of some military display, can
ea,i y realize that the short, sturdy, ruddy.
faced, and bright.eyei man was twent. -;hrcc
years ago the most dashing OF cavalry leaders:
that the country was ringing with praise Of his
exploits in the Shenandoah valley, and that
AT 80 ears OF age he had won the praise of the
President, the commanding general, the Sec
retary Of War, and the Congress, and had be-
cone the hero of Winchester, 10 be h inded
down to later generations IN song, story, and
self wondering at his own position, modestly
setting more value upon circumstances that
favored than upon his own merit. Bat the boy
who was born on March 6, 1851, at Somerse',
Perry county, Ohio, of parents who hal i'm
migrated from County Cavan, Ireland, was
not merely submissive child OF fate.
| He had go" in him. At he
could ride on horseback, and was rs
fond of horses as girls of that age are fond oi
dolls. The Irish school master who gave him
| his first simple lessons found the grit IA
| him that aferward developed In the tireless
| camI algner Little time had he for schools
| and 1t was when he was hard ware dealers
| clerf, bright, cheerful, aud anxious TO learn,
| that he aspired to become student at West
| Point Military Academy. His way of reaching
| the academy was manly and direct. Hewrote
| to the member of Congress for the district In
+, which he lived, asking for the appointment,
| ard he got 1t, at II years Of age. A good, bat
not one of the best. scholars, tar above meii.
ocrity, but not at the top, he unfortunately
allowed his high spirit TO lead him TO hog q
cadet who insulted him, aud was set back a
| year in his gradua ion. At % he left the
military academy and on the border he was
seasoned for the great work he was later
called to perform. When the war broke out
he was first lieutenant, and when he was
made a captain, standing sixty.sourth in the
| lis, 1t was his reasonable hope that he might
| win majors commission before the war was
| over. In three years he was q major general,
in five years more he was lieutenant general
| and fifteen years later he assumed the com
mand Of the army in which he had been 50
brilliant and successful leader.
| Gen. Sheridan does not often wear the uuI
form OF his rank. lie is seen In 1t at least
twice year. however-at the New Year re,
ception at the white house and again when the
President and his wife have the general OF the
army and the admira, of the navy at their
table to meet other distinguished guests. 0c-
caslonally he appears at the head OF u pro
cession, as he did when he rode before the
troops that escorted the body OF Log IN to the
tomb, ana he was conspicuous figure at the
Inauguration OF President Cleveland. Nelrl,
every day in the year he can be iJult, soor
after O'Clock in the morning. In his otica /;
The War Department building, on Pennsy!va
Lila avenue This Office is large square r,ou
on tie main floor, with windows oycriookinI
Pennsylvania avenue to the north aud The
white house grounds to the east The general
desk stands obliquely across the outermOs
corner, In such position that as he sit,
behind 1t ths light falls uDDn hi,
back and upon the faces of all visitor,
TO the room. Two large cases filled with cu
TiOus pottery, Indian blankets, b rvs and
rows, headgeur, club', IN ! other articles 90
leCted In the Indian country before and sinc
the war of the rebellion, stand at oppost
sides OF the apartment. Upon the walls ar
portraits of Gems. Jackson, Worth, Z,caary
Taylor, Logan, Blair, Meade, and McPnertol
and several spirited Illustrations of we tern
hunting scenes, Just beyond Gen, Sheridlu'i
desk ard the three great leather-upholstere
chairs that always invite weary callers IL al
easel bearing small picture, to which tn,
general directs attention as being the best rep
rCsentaton he has ever seen OF the famou
charge at Winchester, in the Valley cimpaIgr
of 1861. 1t is by De Thulstrup, ana is spirited
as well us accurate, and should hnd place, 1;
an enlarged form, In the slowly accumulatinG
gallery OF historical pictures. Upon sof,
leans q handsomely framed escutcheon o
shield, upon which a skillful artist has EN-
blazoned Gen. sheridan's military hlstory-tht
record Of his graduation, promotion, battles
honorable mention Of his name by the Prasl
dent, the Secretary of War and Congress, anS
into which, in their proper co.ors, are intro
duCed the emblems OF the branch OF the army
with which Gen. Sheridan was consplcuol.ll
identified, us well as those of the Loyal Legion
the societies Of the army Of the shenandoah